Containers for storing materials that can be selectively mixed or dispensed

ABSTRACT

A composite container includes two containers that are axially aligned in movable toward each other to close a hole between the containers or away from each other to open the hole. When the hole is opened liquids, powder or other appropriate material in the containers can be mixed or intermingled ending up in either container or in both containers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

This invention pertains two or more containers that are interconnected, or nested and are filled with different materials. The containers can be separated and their content can be dispensed or a channel or common zone is formed between the containers and the two materials are mixed or comingled.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In many instances consumers need the ability to carry two or more materials disposed in separate containers which they can mix quickly and easily. While attempts have been made in the past to provide containers that can be used for this purpose, all such attempts (or at least the ones known to the present inventors), have one or more of the following disadvantages: they have a complex shape or detail and therefore are difficult to manufacture; usually they include one of the materials in a cup which is then emptied completely in another container, and therefore cannot be used for only partially mixing the contents of each container; once they are opened and the mixing process starts, the containers cannot be accessed separately and refilled as needed; once the mixing process starts, the contents of one of the containers cannot be kept separate and isolated from the contents of the other container; etc. Some typical prior art solutions having these problems are illustrated in the following U.S. patents:

4,203,517 4,386,696 5,419,445 5,092,644 4,950,237 3,802,604 3,802,604 7,810,661 6,705,462 6,068,396 5,593,052 5,060,811 4,856,995 6,988,168.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above-named disadvantages are overcome by the present invention. The invention pertains to a novel composite Container includes a first container having first container body; a second container having a second container body; and an interconnecting device interconnecting Said first and second container bodies selectively in one of a first configuration in which the two bodies are sealed from each other and a second configuration in which the bodies are in fluid communication thereby allowing contents from one body container to comingle with the contents of the second container.

Depending on the application and usage, the simple design of the two containers allow user to decide where to end up locating the mixed material: in the upper container, in the lower container or in both containers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an elevational partial sectional view of a two-container baby bottle constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 show an elevational view of the upper and the lower container respectively;

FIG. 4 shows a two-part water bottle constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 5 shows a bottom view of the top containers of the bottles of FIG. 1 and FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 shows an alternate embodiment of the baby bottle of FIG. 1 with the bottom container connected to the top container and an additional separated bottom container closed with a cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As discussed above, the present invention can be used in various environments and purposes. For example, a composite baby bottle 10 composed of containers is shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The top container 12 includes a standard cylindrical body 14 made typically of a hard, transparent or translucent plastic material. The body 14 is provided with a dome-shaped closure terminated with a nipple 18 through which a baby could be fed.

The body 14 further includes a bottom 20 that has a generally circular shape. Importantly, the bottom 20 includes a centrally located round aperture or hole 22. Typically the hole may have a diameter of ½-1″ depending on the size of the container, and various other parameters. In addition, a lower portion of the body 14 is formed with an attachment member. In one embodiment, the attachment member is a an outer thread 24.

Lower container 30 is preferably molded from a plastic material and includes a cylindrical outer wall 32 and a circular bottom 34. Dependent on bottom 34 is a boss or shaft 36 disposed coaxially within the wall 32. The boss 36 is terminated with a mushroom shaped head 38 having a top surface 40. The boss 36 may be made of a softer material, such as a rubber or similar material. Alternatively, the boss 36 is made of a relatively hard material, the same material as the wall 32 and bottom 34 but the top surface 40 of the head 38 is made of a softer material that is attached to the head 38 by an adhesive or other conventional means. The top surface 40 has a diameter that is larger than the diameter of hole 22.

An upper portion of the inner surface of wall 32 is provided with a thread 42 that is shaped to mate with the thread 24 on top container 12. A plastic cover 44 may be optionally provided that fits over the container 30 to close it at will. The cover 44 may be shaped to snap onto the container 30 or it may have a skirt (not shown) with a threaded portion to engage threads either on the outside on the wall 32 or threads 42.

The baby bottle 10 is used as follows. Containers 12 and 30 are filled at will with any desired materials, including liquids, powders, pastes, etc. For example, the bottom container 30 can be filled with a baby formula at a factory and shipped either together with or independently of the top container 12. Alternatively, the container 30 can be filled at home and then either attached to the container 12 which then could be also filled with liquid at home, or container 30 could be carried separately with the top 44 in place. To feed the baby, the top 44 is removed from the Container 30 and the container 30 is attached to the bottom of container 12 closing hole 22. Then container 12 is filled with the appropriate liquid. Then by twisting accordingly the containers, the mixing of the material in the containers starts until food in the bottle is ready to be served to the baby. This arrangement is advantageous because it allows a person to prepare everything already at home. He or she fills in the bottom container and attaches to the top container and by turning it she seals the bottom container from the top container and, as such, the material remains isolated in the bottom container. She can also fill in at home the top container with the appropriate liquid, and be ready for later on to mix the materials by twisting the containers and opening hole 22 and as such allowing material to go through hole 22. She can also prepare a second filled bottom container to be used later. But when replacing the first container with the second one and connecting the second container to the top container, the top container needs to be empty and only after filled in. The hole 22, the boss 36 and the head 38 and top head 40 are sized and shaped so that when the container 30 is attached to the container 12, the top surface 40 comes in contact with the bottom 20 of the container 12 and closes the hole 22. In order to make sure that the container 30 is sealed and air-tight, an O-ring 46 may be used as a sealing gasket between containers 30 and 12. If necessary, the container 30 may be formed with a shoulder on wall 32 supporting the O-ring 46.

In one embodiment, in order to feed the baby, the bottom container is turned in a predetermined direction causing the container 12 and boss 36 to move downwardly away from the bottom 20 and its hole 22. As a result, the hole 22 is uncovered or opened and the water or other appropriate liquid from container 12 enters into container 30 and mixes with the baby formula. Some shaking may be helpful to insure that the formula and the water are properly mixed.

For baby formula, it is expected that the mixing is continued until the materials are thoroughly mixed. In other instances it may be desirable to stop the mixing before it is complete. This can be easily accomplished by tightening the bottom container 30 to the top container 12 thereby closing the hole 22. Further more, the mixing of materials could occur either at the bottom container, top container or in both container as per the application or user preference. It is possible and simple to direct the material in 30 into the top container 12 by flipping (turning up side down) the containers while both containers are still sealed from each other and now bottom container 30 is on top, opening in a controlled way the hole 22 (by twisting away the containers) and allowing material from 30 drop into container 12 in the desirable quantity and controlled manner and then closing the hole 22 by tightening back both containers.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment. In this embodiment, a soft drink bottle 70 is provided that includes a top container 72 and a bottom container 74. FIG. 4 is showing the hole of bottom container 72 open, but when filling in the top container 72 it need to be closed if user wants at this stage to keep both material that reside in the two containers 72 and 74 isolated. The top container could be filled with plain water, soda water or any other drinking liquid. The bottom container 74 could contain a flavor in a solid, gel or liquid form. When a user is ready to drink, she flips over the containers so bottom container 74 is now on top. Then she twists the bottom container 74 which is now on top, opening in a controlled way the passage of material through the hole 22 of container 72 into container 72. The content of container 74 flows into container 72, dissolve and/or mix in container 72, with at least some or all of the flavored material, as desired by user. User can then tighten back the two containers closing opening 22, flip over the containers, open cap 76 and drink.

By flipping over the containers and only then allowing material from container 74 go into the container 72, the user can control the flow of material and then close hole 22 of the top container by tightening the two containers. This will allow repeat of this process. The user just need every time after finishing drinking to fill in the top container 72 with water or other drinkable liquid.

As explained earlier same repeatable process could be done also on the baby bottle.

On the other side, in either bottle, if desired to mix the entire material, user just untighten the two containers, by doing so he is opening hole 22 and material can flow from one container to another. User can mix the material including shaking the container and now having free flow of material form one container to the other. User can leave the passage hole open and have like one big container consisted of the two containers with the open hole allowing free flow.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the baby bottle of FIG. 1 wherein stops 91 are provided that limit the rotation of container 90 in either or both directions. Moreover, in this Figure, a separate container 90A is also provided with cover 92. Container 90 may be replaced with container 90A as desired.

The composite bottles and other types of containers can be made for various purposes, especially where two materials have to be mixed before use, including medical containers, paints, glues, etc. Moreover it should be appreciated, that in some instances, once the two containers are in communication and the materials are properly mixed, the composite bottle or container can be turned so that either container is on top and the mixture can be dispensed in either direction.

Furthermore, while the containers are interconnected or coupled by respective interengaging threads, other means of performing this function can be used.

As indicated, the mixed material can be ended either in top container only, bottom container only or in both. Also it is possible to perform partial mixing. By flipping over the containers user can control the direction of the material flow, all depending on the application and what is the usage of the containers.

Numerous modifications may be made to the invention without departing from its scope as defined in the appended claims. 

1. A composite container comprising: a first container having first container body; a second container having a second container body; and an interconnecting device interconnecting said first and second container bodies selectively in one of a first configuration in which the two bodies are sealed from each other and a second configuration in which the bodies are in fluid communication thereby allowing contents from one body container to comingle with the contents of the second container.
 2. The composite container of claim 1 wherein said first container body has a cylindrical sid wall and a bottom, said bottom having a hole and said interconnecting device includes a closing element selectively covers and uncovers said hole.
 3. The composite container of claim 2 wherein said interconnecting device includes first threads on said first container body and second threads on said second body, wherein rotation of said container bodies with respect to each other cause said bodies to selectively approach and separate from each other along said threads.
 4. The composite container of claim 2 wherein said interconnecting member includes a boss terminating in said head.
 5. The composite container of claim 4 Wherein said boss is attached to said second container body.
 6. A composite container comprising: a first container having a cylindrical first container body and a first bottom with a hole, and a first engaging member disposed near said first bottom; and a second container having a second body with a second bottom, a boss terminating in a closing member and a second engaging member; wherein said first and second engaging members cooperating to selectively move said first and said container between a first and a second position; wherein in said first position said closing member is in contact with said first bottom to close said hole, and in said second position, said hole is open allowing fluid communication between the interiors of said first and second containers.
 7. The composite container of claim 6 wherein said first container has an outer wall and said first engaging member's a first thread on said outer wall.
 8. The composite container of claim 7 wherein said second container has an inner wall and said second engaging member is a second thread on the inner wall, said first and second thread being coupled to each other.
 9. The composite container of claim 8 wherein said container bodies are axially aligned and said hole and closing member are coaxial with said container bodies.
 10. The composite container of claim 6 further comprising a container top constructed to attach said second container to close said container. 